Undergraduate Weapon Systems Design Engineer Review

On a day-to-day basis, I spend a considerable amount of time at my desk, generating requirements, concepts, testing plans and procuring COTS products necessary for the project I am working on. I also spend a reasonable amount of time in the lab, collecting data, testing scripts, and preparing test assets.

Yes, most definitely. I was tasked with procuring products, writing testing memorandums and results documents and optimising specific equipment layouts that were all to be utilised at a trials location with. stakeholder and customer attendance

Yes, I like to think my coding skills in platforms such as MATLAB have developed considerably. I have also been introduced to new programs and tools such as MathCad. Soft skills such as self/time management and communication have also improved slightly.

A lot. I always felt that I could ask my line/project manager as well as other colleagues for any assistance that I needed along the way. Although the work is not spoon fed to you in any way and the task is there for you to interpret yourself, help and advice is only a quick email or skype message away.

Company culture is for the most part very welcoming, and incentivises you to take actions that will help your own career development. The general atmosphere is usually a happy and calm environment, although like any workplace I imagine there are more stressful times in busy periods and in the build up to important deliverables. Since undergrads don't apply for higher security clearance, I sat in a smaller section of the department's office which wasn't as busy/sociable.

I enjoyed my placement a lot, particularly days where I was able to spend time in the lab and partake in hands-on/practical work. Also, I spent a total of 9 weeks working away at a trials site, which I found thoroughly enjoyable. This was also somewhat of an "eye-opening experience" as it was my first time seeing "real" engineering work happen outside of the workplace.

Yes